Making any movie is usually an extremely collaborative effort. These days, ending credits for summer blockbuster films can run 10 minutes or more.
Sometimes we take it for granted just because a bunch of people get together to make a movie, it is worth watching. Potentially, there could be so many factors which could change the end result of a film including interpretations by actors, directors, digital artists, editors, costume designers, even studio executives and those who edit the trailers.
Surely, there are many examples of actors who regret making particular movies for whatever reason. Usually, though, they keep this to themselves as to not disparage those involved and do not want to come across as a complainer or difficult to work with.
Obviously, it may not be evident to them while they are in production what the end product of the film will be. There is no way they should complain about the script after the fact if they knew what it was going in.
Also, to say they regret it means they wished they would not have done it in the first place. To be sure if any of the films listed below would have been released to huge success the actors involved would have been talking a different tune. Only sometimes when a movie fails to reach an audience or garners bad reviews do some feel the need to provide reasons why or start the blame game.
One would think the best thing to do would be pick up their marbles and just move on.
In a perfect world, all actors would have percentages of their salaries would be tied to the release of a film and would only be rewarded if the film performs well. Then you would never see actors being paid $20 million for a movie that only did $20 million is total box office.
Doubt that will ever happen.
In reading through this article, there will be several quotes from actors, etc. which may have some naughty words in them. If those things bother you or you get offended easily, stop reading now!
(Movies in no particular order)
1. Mark Wahlberg for The Happening
It seems as if filmmaker M. Night Shyamalan has lost his way. After breaking out in the hugest way with “The Sixth Sense” in 1999, he did have “Unbreakable” and “Signs” which were both really good. Then came “The Village”. While not up to the previous three films, was still decent. Then what? “Lady in the Water”, “The Happening”, “The Last Airbender” and “After Earth”. Do you hear that sucking sound?
“The Happening” was so bad Wahlberg could not help himself in ripping on his own film. He was actually talking about Amy Adams who was going for the female lead when he said:
“We had actually had the luxury of having lunch before to talk about another movie and it was a bad movie that I did. She dodged the bullet. And then I was still able to … I don’t want to tell you what movie … alright “The Happening.” F*** it. It is what it is. F***ing trees, man. The plants. F*** it. You can’t blame me for not wanting to try to play a science teacher. At least I wasn’t playing a cop or a crook.”
This is a case of he had to know going in it was going to be bad. There were so many implausible situations and cheesy dialogue throughout the film the results were predestined.
2. George Clooney for Batman & Robin
There was a lot wrong with Joel Schumacher’s fourth Batman film “Batman & Robin” from 1997 including, but not limited to: over-the-top awful Arnold Schwarzenegger as “Mr. Freeze”, Bat nipples, cheesy Chris O’Donnell, unnecessary Alicia Silverstone and really bad dialogue.
George Clooney wasn’t that bad as the caped crusader, but he takes his role to heart saying ‘It was a difficult film to be good in. With hindsight it’s easy to look back at this and go ‘Woah, that was really shit and I was really bad in it.”
Clooney has developed a sense of humor about the film over the years, but still has no taste for his comic book role also saying “I think we might have killed the franchise”. He was correct. Batman lay dormant until resurrected by Christopher Nolan with “Batman Begins” in 2005.
3. Robert Pattinson for Twilight
In the years since Pattinson appeared as the “sparkling” vampire Edward Cullen, it seems every interview Pattinson has given for his subsequent films has been an open invitation to rip into the role that made him a star.
He has said Edward is the “most ridiculous person…the more I read the script, the more I hated this guy. Plus, he’s a 108 year-old virgin so he’s obviously got some issues there.”
Some of his disdain must be his sudden mega-stardom and everyone immediately knowing his name and wanting to be his best friend or girlfriend.
He was ecstatic when his contract was fulfilled and he did not have to appear as the character he hated any longer.
Not sure anyone has any pity for him.
4. Jennifer Garner for Elektra
Darn those contracts, right?
Garner was openly critical of the screenplay of her “Daredevil” spinoff role and expressed dissatisfaction with the final product saying the movie was “awful” due to a bad script. She only appeared in the film due to a contractual obligation.
Even the screenwriter, Stu Zicherman expressed his dislike for the final product saying “I literally, to this day, am still so embarrassed by that movie. I probably shouldn’t say this, but I know Jennifer Garner is too. She hired us to write the movie, which was pitched as much more smart and sophisticated…it’s a blemish.”
Supposedly, the budget was slashed from $80 million to $30 million and the director was fired, neither of which was a good sign.
Not sure if Elektra would have ever been a good film. The character seems too raw and gritty in the comics vs. Garner’s mostly sweet image. They must have thought her character on “Alias” was close enough to give it a try.
5. Brad Pitt for The Devil’s Own
The biggest shame of “The Devil’s Own” is it is famed director Alan J. Pakula’s last film. Previously, he had directed such great works as “All the President’s Men” and “Presumed Innocent”, and this time he had Hollywood heavyweights Brad Pitt and Harrison Ford.
What could go wrong?
Pitt was critical of his own Irish accent in the film (as was everyone who saw it as well). Critics and audiences were not fans either making it a box office disappointment.
Pit actually called the film a “disaster” and said it was “the most irresponsible bit of filmmaking, if you can even call it that, that I’ve ever seen.”
Not sure if that was called for; however the film was very forgettable.
6. Halle Berry for Catwoman
Who can tell if Halle Berry actually believed she was making a good film or whether she even really cared. She knew she was getting a very large paycheck and that seemed to be all that mattered to her.
The film has the distinction of having a 3.3 rating on IMDb and a 9% rating on Rottentomatoes.com.
The film also won the Golden Raspberry Award in 2004 for Worst Picture and Berry for Worst Actress.
Berry did actually show up to accept her award and said of the film “Warner Bros…Thank you for putting me in a piece of sh*t, god-awful movie.” Hinting she had no choice.
Maybe it was sold to her as something different than it ended up becoming.
Most critics and audiences agree it is currently the worst comic book screen adaptation to date; although “Jonah Hex” and the new “Fantastic Four” are not far behind.
7. Channing Tatum for G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra
For a while there, Channing Tatum was “the next big thing” which all kind of started with “G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra”.
Even though the movie made over $150 million in the summer of 2009, it was considered a disappointment since the budget for the film was north of $175 million and audience and critic reviews were not kind.
Like other films on the list, Tatum criticized the screenplay saying it “wasn’t any good.”
He was a big fan of the cartoon series G.I. Joe growing up, but wasn’t sure if the film was right for him.
He said “I f#&king hate that movie” and “I was pushed into doing that movie.” He had actually signed a three-picture deal with Paramount which made him committed.
He did later admit even though he did not like the film it gave him other opportunities for future projects and introduced him to a lot of people in the business.